Sinsinawa Spectrum
A Congregation News Magazine

Let Us Play

The following address was given by Anne Marie Mongoven, OP, at the Groundhog Day Graduation Ceremony held at Sinsinawa Mound. The ceremony can be viewed at www.ustream.tv/recorded/4398999

Maeve the Groundhog tells me that I am the “Triune God.” I will not tell her otherwise.

As God, I am full of surprises. My benediction will not be a prayer of petition. It will not be a prayer of contrition. My prayer is a prayer of praise, and I praise you because you know how to play. Many adults have forgotten how to play, but you have not.

Play is like love; it has no purpose, but it has profound meaning. Play and love are intimately related. Love brings forth play, and play gives rise to love.

Play is not the same as games. It has no rules, no referees, no coaches, no star players, no winners, no losers. For play there are no rehearsals, no practices.

Play does not give birth to rivalry. It brings forth intimacy and union. Play gives the players one heart and one soul in God.

Play is inclusive; it excludes no one who wishes to play. In play there is no audience, for those who could be an audience are really play-ers.

Play frees the imagination. In the world of imagination, everything is possible. Only in play can you ask someone to “play ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ without the pomp.”

In play the imagination creates a new world. Our anxieties, worries, and troubles drop away and we enter a world of innocence, of exuberance, of grace.

My benediction is I praise all of you for playing. I bless you. I hold you close to my heart. My face shines on you and gives you grace, and I urge you,

Go in peace and play some more. Amen.

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